Weekly Briefing: A 'Classics' College Modeled After Hillsdale

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to transform this Florida institution. ADVERTISEMENT [Weekly Briefing Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. You can now read The Chronicle on [Flipboard]( and [Google News](. A Florida liberal-arts college recast in a classical mold. Florida can’t stay out of the headlines, especially with the Republican politician Ron DeSantis as governor. Last week he announced his plan to transform New College of Florida into a “classics” college — “[a Hillsdale of the South]( in the words of his chief of staff. In a statement, [the governor’s press secretary said]( the New College “will be refocused on its founding mission of providing a world-class quality education with an exceptional focus on the classics.” DeSantis appointed six new members to the college’s Board of Trustees. Among them is Christopher Rufo, a conservative activist who has led a campaign against critical race theory and diversity initiatives in education. After his appointment, Rufo tweeted, “Left-wing radicals have spent the past fifty years on a ‘long march through the institutions.’ We are going to reverse that process, starting now.” Other new appointees include Trump-supporting intellectuals and a founder of a private Christian school. The appointments and planned changes come at an interesting time. Shortly after DeSantis was sworn in for his second term as governor, The Chronicle broke the news that his office had [requested information]( from the state’s 29 colleges and 12 universities on programs, staff, and campus activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to critical race theory. The request also sought details on the number of positions required for those programs and [the costs]( to fund them. Between the New College plans and inquiries about critical race theory and DEI, it’s clear that DeSantis is very focused on higher education. New College is a public liberal-arts institution with more than 700 students. It may be best known for its atypical grading system where students are given personal evaluations by their professors in lieu of a traditional grade. Though the college said its [2022 incoming class]( was its largest since 2016, DeSantis’s press secretary [said]( the college had “low student enrollment and other financial stresses,” and he pointed to the college’s “impractical course offerings.” Some students and alumni fear that New College’s conservative transformation could make it unwelcoming to a diverse student body. Some alumni are so concerned with DeSantis’s plans that they led the creation of a new student group [to challenge him](. DeSantis’s chief of staff said Hillsdale, a private Christian institution in Michigan, is an inspiration for New College’s future. Larry P. Arnn, Hillsdale’s president, was on President Donald J. Trump’s [1776 Commission]( which produced a nearly [2,400 page curriculum]( for “patriotic education” in schools. New College administrators didn’t address the governor’s plans to reshape the institution. “I believe that last week’s announcement is a signal that our state’s leaders want to invest in the future of New College,” said Patricia Okker, New College’s president, in a statement to The Chronicle. “As I see it, our current discussion is so much more positive and focused on how to ensure a strong New College.” [Read Grace Mayer’s story here](. More from the Sunshine State. Read more on the collision between state lawmakers and higher education in Florida: - [Inside the Academic-Freedom Crisis That Roiled Florida’s Flagship]( - [When Lawmakers Purged ‘Immorality’ From Florida’s Universities]( - [‘Private Little Hell': A Florida Committee Once Hunted for Gay People on Campuses. Sixty Years Later, the Effects Linger]( ADVERTISEMENT Lagniappe. - Learn. If you’re always running late for something (I am), here’s advice on how [to be on time this year](. (New York) - Read. I’ll read anything by Rachel Aviv, a staff writer at The New Yorker. Her first book, Strangers to Ourselves, is a fascinating [exploration]( of why psychiatric explanations are both helpful and harmful. (The New York Times) - Listen. This podcast episode is not for the faint of heart. A reporter describes the [new practices for layoffs]( in the remote-work era. 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